1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1848 - New Zealand, p 47-55

That which has most especially occupied my thoughts has been the field of my late labours; but even that, with all the anxiety it occasions me, is a constant source of gratitude and praise. The people whom I have left still regard me with affection and love, and pay the greatest attention to a few lines of advice which I from time to time communicate to them. I said above that painful reflections passed through my mind. After some years of great activity to be rendered inactive doubtless in some degree produces these; but I mean nothing more: for, whatever may be said of the trials which Missionaries may have to undergo, I am sure that no earthly pleasure can at all approach that which I experience when I remember that I am regarded with love and affection by hundreds of my fellow-beings, for no other reason than because I have been engaged among them as a Minister of the Gospel of peace.

The collateral effect of Missionaries' labours on the best-informed and most respectable Settlers is very great--greater, perhaps, than they would themselves be willing to allow; for they cannot shut their eyes to the effects produced upon the Natives. May not one effect, even of this, under the Divine Blessing, be to lessen that prejudice against Missions which has hitherto prevailed too much in the nominally-Christian World, and, if so, materially to help forward and facilitate the great object? I generally endeavour to view subjects dispassionately, and am not conscious that I am too sanguine; but I confess I think that, in a Christian point of view, the late untoward events in New Zealand have been considered too important. I certainly have a much stronger conviction of the reality of the hold that Religion possesses over the professing Natives, since the late disturbances in this part of the country, than I had previously. Last winter, while war was going on in the neighbourhood, Governor Grey visited Waikanae on the Lord's Day, and attended the Native Church and School. It was conducted by a Native Catechist, Levi Te Ahu, a man who has conducted himself invariably in the most Christian Manner ever since his conversion seven years ago. On his return to Wellington the Governor came to me, and expressed himself as altogether astonished that such a change could have taken place in a barbarous people in so short a time. I believe that Christianity is extending itself in New Zealand; and I cannot, with some, allow myself to doubt it merely because some temporary disturbing forces may occasionally appear to arrest its progress I should have little hesitation in undertaking to maintain the position, that, ceteris paribus, Christianity has made a more rapid progress in New Zealand than it has ever made in any other country since its first proclamation by the Apostles. I have made this assertion here several times, when conversing with intelligent men of extensive reading, and it has been acquiesced in. I merely make this remark, because I fancy I have seen, in some English notices of New Zealand, a kind of commiseration for the obduracy of New Zealanders; when all impartial and competent judges must be astonished at the remarkable progress, in both Religion and civilization, which these people have made. Some people, however, persist in observing and reasoning from the worst speci-

mens, and thus mislead both themselves and others.

I am thankful to say my Natives are still living in peace. The dying conversation of Turoa, 1 our late most belligerent Chief, has been like oil cast upon the waters, rendering futile the efforts of the evil spirit to excite his turbulent followers to war.

On Christmas Day I had a numerous assemblage, from all parts of the District, to commemorate the Saviour's birth: 270 partook of the feast which He Himself instituted. I had also a very gratifying meeting of my Teachers, forty-two of whom preached before me.

At nine o'clock the Congregation, about 1000 in number, assembled in the field opposite the Church, whither the pulpit had been removed. A more attentive Congregation I could not have had. After Service the Communicants entered the Church, which they nearly filled, being 270 in number. I felt much comfort in beholding the reverential manner of many, and I trust have good reason to hope that some at least held spiritual communion with the Son. In the afternoon I gave an English Service, which was pretty well attended, and after that I returned to the Native Afternoon Service, when I baptized nearly forty children and thirty adults.

My ministerial duties, when at home, have been--A Morning and Evening Service in Native, and one in English, on the Lord's Day, with attendance at the Congregational School; and on weekdays a daily Service and Sermon, with a Bible-Class meeting on Monday Evening.

The Daily School, under Mr. Ronaldson, has been but thinly attended: its scholars, however, have made a decided progress, as some can read and write English very freely, and have begun arithmetic.

The Adults' Daily and Sunday Schools are well attended, the entire Congregation generally remaining.

A young man of my flock, named Aropita, has finished his course in a very pleasing state of mind. For three years he had been confined to his bed, and during that long period he manifested a firm faith and reliance on the Lord. When I last saw him he told me that he should never see me again in the flesh. I inquired what were his feelings in the prospect of his departure; when he answered, that there was no darkness: all was light within.

It gives me much pleasure to report the consistent behaviour of the great mass of my people, and their general attention to religious duties. This is especially gratifying at present, when so many have halted between two opinions.

At this moment there is war in Waikato among the Natives, and every day threatens its breaking out at Wellington between the two races. Numbers of strange Natives are daily passing through my District to the expected seat of war, and they endeavour to unsettle my people; but, by the providential care of the Lord, they have hitherto been unsuccessful. The Europeans are constrained to look to them as their protectors, should war approach the little Settlement, and even they are obliged to acknowledge their greater consistency of conduct. They do not drink, nor swear, nor profane the Lord's Day, nor omit daily prayer, nor fall into those gross sins in which too many of our countrymen openly indulge. Though I cannot affirm that their light shines very brightly, still it burns, and appears the brighter when contrasted with the sur-

rounding darkness. There is a searching spirit among many, which is a token for good.

We have been constantly threatened with war during the last year, and have been living in expectation of hostile visits from the Heathen Natives of the interior; but, by the mercy of God, we have found that our enemy has been chained, and not permitted to hurt us. The kind reception I met in my last two visits to Taupo, from those who threatened us as enemies, leads me to hope, that not only my object in taking those journeys has been attained, in hindering the enemy from fulfilling their threats; but in also spreading the fear and knowledge of God among those seldom-frequented parts of the island. Thus is the Gospel becoming an increasing bulwark to us against future aggressions. The awful death of Te Heuheu, and nearly sixty of his tribe, had doubtless been ordered in infinite wisdom for good, which time will more fully develope. The desire expressed by Iwikau, Te Heuheu's successor, that I should pay him an immediate visit, and the kind reception given me by him and his people, raises the hope that a permanent good effect will be produced upon their minds.

The large bell which the Society has kindly presented to this place has been hung on two fine totara posts, our most durable and precious wood here, which the Natives gave for the purpose. It is not an unnecessary present, as its sound is heard by all in the vicinity, who joyfully obey its loud summons to come and worship their gracious Redeemer.

Dec. 19, 1845--A Native from Pukeoha, who was going to visit his relations at Chatham Island, had collected about twelve Testaments as a present for them, and solicited me to add some Catechisms to his stock, which I shall most willingly do. It is wonderful how much is accomplished by these wandering Natives: like birds, they carry the seed of eternal life, and oftentimes disseminate it where no Missionary has been; who, when afterward visiting such remote spots, is led to inquire who has done this, and cannot but ascribe it to the Lord as the work of His hand. It was thus that, last summer, I found a little Church in the heart of the country at the before-unvisited Pas about Patea.

Jan. 7, 1846--This morning I saw Ripeka, one of the wives of Mawai, who was baptized on Christmas Day. She told me that, with the consent of her husband, she had separated from him, although it was a very great trial for her: the act was entirely voluntary on their part, which made me think more highly of her. Mawai himself, who was once the most turbulent of these Natives, is now as gentle and well behaved as any in the Pa. His ferocity has disappeared; his once ungovernable passions, which rendered him more like a demon than a man, are no longer seen; he is a regular attendant on daily prayer, morning and evening; and he expressed a wish to be baptized with his three wives, two of whom he would have repudiated, that, as he said, though no longer his wives, they might be made members of Christ's Flock at the same time with himself, and thus, as he hoped, though separated here on earth, be united with him in heaven. Two of his wives, however, not being agreeable to this separation, he hesitated, and I did not press the subject, wishing it to be entirely voluntary. Ripeka having, however, separated herself, I endeavoured to strengthen her good resolution by reminding her of the great hope set before us, and of Christ's words--He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me.

I held Service at the lower Pa. I must have had full 1000 present, and all were most attentive: it was a pleasing sight. The people of Ihupuku had prepared a feast for their Christian Visitors. Eight canoes, full 40 feet long, were filled with dried kumera: four had the kumera mashed up into a pulp with water, and formed the largest dishes I have ever seen. Humble as the power of these Natives is, they still aim at doing every thing of this kind on a grand scale: they treat their friends with the munificence of princes. There were two large stages, from which was suspended an enormous quantity of eels--some of very large dimensions, being four feet long, and as thick as my arm. A large bunch of them was presented to me, together with a noble kete (native basket) of kumera and dried shark. My boys took a few eels, and then I bade them give the remainder to George King. I examined thirty Candidates for Baptism: many were very old men, who, when they found that they could not now be baptized, were very low-spirited, some having come from a great distance. I received only ten old people of this Pa, who have been on my books for Baptism for a long period. I then spoke to transgessors who were anxious to be restored; and after dinner exhorted the Candidates for the Sacrament, and heard the reasons which some gave why they should not partake of it. I held Service outside, the pulpit, which is a very creditable native work, being carried out; and even then the space before the Church would not contain the Congregation.

Feb. 1, 1846---I had Morning Service in the space opposite the Church, preaching from John vi., and expressing my hope that none had come for the good cheer given them rather than for the Sacrament. They were all very attentive. I churched a woman; restored three persons to Church Communion; and afterward administered the Sacrament to 244, who almost filled the Church. In the afternoon I went down to the lower Pa, where I held Service and baptized ten old men and about fifteen children. The sight was very interesting. I stood within a circle, around me being arranged those who were to be baptized, on each side of me my head Teachers, and beyond a Congregation of full 1000, whose hearty responses raised the spirit to heaven. It was not the response of a few, but of the entire Congregation, whose united prayers ascended in one prolonged swell to the mercy seat, and seemed to insure the fulfilment of their requests.

In the course of my Sermon I mentioned Christ as the sower of the seed; and one afterward inquired how Christ could be the husbandman when He said His Father was the husbandman. He was immediately answered by another, who said that what Christ spoke of the Father He spoke of Himself, all three being one, and all the attributes of one belonging equally to the other. All immediately assented to the correctness of the explanation.

Feb. 2--This morning we had prayers by six o'clock; but many, fearing the tide would be unfavourable, had already left. I still had the Church quite filled; and as I knew that these had stayed solely for the Service, I felt as if my great Congregation had been weeded--as if the chaff had been blown away and the wheat left. After Service, one of the Natives came to me, while I was still in the pulpit, and inquired the meaning of bearing the Cross. I inquired whether he had not expelled a near and dear relative from his Pa because he had fallen into sin. He assented. I asked him whether he had not found it a great trial to do so. He said he had, but he felt that it was his duty. I told him that he had borne his Cross in that instance. The explanation quite satisfied him. I had some difficulty in taking leave: there were so many questions, so many last words and "good byes," that at last I was fairly obliged to run away.

Feb. 3--This evening I heard several reports of guns, and soon after Mr. Ronaldson came for me to go immediately to the Pa, as Iharaira had hung himself. The wind had blown down one of the heavy posts of the Pa fence, which fell upon his canoe and split it up in every direction; when, in a fit of grief, he tied some flax round his throat, pulled it tight with his toe, and immediately fell senseless. The

foolish people began firing guns over him instead of coming for me, or using any means to restore him. I found him senseless, and bled him freely. He seemed almost immediately to revive, and I then gave him a stimulant, when he soon came to his senses, and answered me when I spoke to him.

Feb. 4, 1846--I found Iharaira much better, but his neck very sore. I gave him a long lecture upon his wickedness. He seemed very much ashamed of his conduct. I told him how gracious the Lord had been to him in not permitting him to execute his wicked intention. The canoe for which he was so grieved was an old thing, not worth a dozen shillings. This has made me feel very low-spirited. I had great hopes that a good work had been commenced in his heart, and perhaps they may not yet be blasted. How often, when we strive most to serve God, does the Devil strive also, and appear to obtain a complete victory; which God permits, to teach us to lean on Him solely, and not on our own strength.

March 8--This morning we administered the Sacrament to eighty-two persons, and had a very large Congregation both Morning and Evening. A large party of Natives from this Pa intending to join Rangihaeata early on the morrow, the Christian Chiefs proposed that we should hold a Meeting to endeavour to hinder them.

March 9--Immediately after Prayers this morning we held a Council with all the Natives on the subject of the present war with the Europeans. The principal Chiefs made some excellent speeches. One old man, named Paora, said, that if they went they must leave their books behind, give up their Ministers, and return to their former evil courses; "but," he continued, "we have forsaken them because we knew them to be bad; and therefore now, having turned to the living God, we must remain firm in His service." A Chief, named Puke, made a very long and excellent speech in a droll and sarcastic tone. He alluded to the reasons urged by the advocates for war, and refuted them; he shewed the advantages of living at peace with the English; and said that the Natives ought not to meddle in this affair of the Hutt, for the land had been paid for by the English, and therefore justly belonged to them; that when the English were killed at Wairau they were in the wrong; and he immediately jumped up, and went to offer his services to Rauparaha, who told him to return to his place; that the late Governor said his people were then in the wrong, and therefore, sorry as he was, he should not seek any payment; but now the English were in the right, and therefore the Governor came to give them the land, and he, for his part, should sit still, and recommend them to do so also. Ihakara, a Teacher and Chief, made a very good speech. After I had addressed them, he said, "Don't forget this Meeting, and the day when it was held--the 9th of March. It is a great Meeting, and must not be forgotten." He was afraid that many had

double hearts; and, though they all assented then, that there was a Judas among them, as there was among the Apostles. One only of the opposite party briefly addressed the Meeting, and he seemed afraid to avow his desire for war. I was much pleased with the Meeting, as I cannot but think it will have a very beneficial effect on the Natives of this part. They all said, that as Christians it was their duty to listen to their Ministers, and they were determined to do so. I shook hands with some of the speakers, and especially with Puke, and told him his speech was a very good one; when another said, "And was not mine a good one?" and so on with them all. It now appears that my being unable to administer the Sacrament sooner was ordered by a higher power for good: had it been administered the week before, as was my intention, this Meeting would not have been held, and many would have gone to the seat of war. I have also noticed, that whenever the Sacraments are administered they are attended with a perceptible benefit to the recipients, in confirming their faith and strengthening their good resolutions.

This morning the Governor accompanied me to Service at half-past six o'clock, and afterward stayed to School. He appeared to be much pleased on hearing the old people repeat their Catechism. After breakfast I took him to see my Infant School. He expressed his approbation of the way in which it was conducted, and left a sovereign to be given as prize-money to deserving children. His Excellency afterward walked through the Pa, and was particularly pleased with William the Teacher's house. He said he should have one constructed like it at Auckland. He crawled into George King's house-- which is a ware puni (sleeping-house)-- on all fours.

March 18, 1846--The Governor again attended Morning Prayer and School. After breakfast he had an interview at my house with my three principal Chiefs. He asked them what they thought about the land. The first thing they said was, "Let the piece which we have given for our Minister to live on be sacred for ever;" and then they said, "Let the piece we have reserved for ourselves also be sacred to us; and as to the remainder, we are quite agreeable to let the Europeans have it." Mawai 3 spoke very loud, and clapped his sides. The Governor bade him speak lower, saying it was not our custom to bawl in houses. He did not, however, relish the reproof, and replied, "And you, too, when you go again to Church, don't buckle on your sword: it is very wrong to carry weapons of war into the House of God. What! are you afraid we should kill you?" I ended the conversation as soon as possible, and dismissed them.

I then took the Governor to see the English Church: he was much pleased with it, both externally and internally, and inquired when and how it was built. He afterward authorised me to draw upon him for 20l. toward providing clothes and food for the sick in my little hospital.

March 19 -- The Governor accompanied me to Church again this morning, and I noticed that he left his sword in the house. I felt pleased with this token of his desire to conciliate the native mind. After breakfast His Excellency left, giving my Natives, John Williams and Kemp, a passage with him to Wellington. Williams took a present of peaches and cabbages on board.

Williams and Kemp returned, both highly delighted with the Governor's kind treatment of them.

April 11, 1846--In the morning I went to see the sick, and in the afternoon I was engaged till sunset with the Candidates for Baptism. Many, also, had to unbosom themselves to me before they felt at liberty to partake of the Lord's Supper. Raharuhi, the Teacher of Te Arero, stated that he had given a pig to some of the Natives of his Pa, and in return they gave him a gown for his wife which he found out had been stolen: he therefore returned it to them, much against the inclination of his wife, who wished to keep it. He wanted to know whether he might safely take the Sacrament. Many similar cases were brought before me. I preached to the Candidates, and then heard them read a chapter, from which I questioned them. In the evening I examined several for Baptism. I was amused by a remark of one who sat near me, on his observing me take my pocket handkerchief from one pocket and a piece of paper on which to write a name from another. He exclaimed, "What a wonderful people these pakehas (strangers, foreigners) are! They divide every thing into rooms: they have rooms in their houses, and rooms even in their clothes. And, just as it is in their houses so it is in their clothes: they have one room appropriated to this, another to that--one to eat in, one to sleep in, and another to cook in; and in their clothes there is one pocket for the handkerchief, another for papers, another for the watch, another for keys, &c. When shall we be like them?" Hori Patene, the principal Chief, is anxious to have a brick Church. It is very pleasing to see the interest he takes in the House of God: his chief thought is, to render it as good a building as possible, though in other respects he is a self-willed, headstrong man.

April 12: Easter Sunday--I administered the Lord's Supper to about 150 Natives. We had a very crowded Congregation, but the weather was too unsettled to allow of our holding Service in the open air: many could not get in. In the afternoon I had a good Congregation, and baptized four children. In the evening I had a long talk.

April 1 3---During the whole of the day I was engaged in taking a new census of the different places in this neighbourhood. In the morning I had School; in the evening I preached; and afterward gave goods (o the amount of 10l. for the house which the Natives have erected for me, and the fence they have put round it. Ihaia, the second Teacher, in dividing the goods, said he should not take any thing, although he was the chief workman, as they had got Parata Matiu living among them: he was satisfied with having a Teacher as a payment.

I was much pleased with an expression of John Williams relative to William the head Teacher, who is a native of Taupo, and has no land here. He said he was afraid William would feel "dark" because there was no share of the land payment coming to him; but he had thought of the Scripture, he that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; so he would take care that William should not be forgotten.

I reached Rangatapu about sunset, and was occupied till about eleven in examining Candidates for Baptism, and hearing all their various matters.

May 30--I superintended the putting up of a table, &c. in the Church for the Sacrament. The Natives, not having finished their Church, have erected a temporary one, which must be nearly sixty feet long. They have also prepared a feast for those who have come to this Sacrament. I saw a pile of forty-five pigs, fresh killed, and potatoes to the amount of some tons, with five large towers

neatly built of kumera (the sweet potatoe). These towers are about six feet square, and the highest must be full fifteen feet high. How they will consume them I do not know. I addressed the Candidates for the Sacrament, and then examined twelve Candidates for Baptism.

May 31, 1846--I had an overflowing Congregation, and I trust some seed has fallen in good ground. I administered the Lord's Supper to 136. In the afternoon two women returned thanks, six aged persons and eight children were baptized, and two persons were restored to Church Communion.

In the evening I had an interesting conversation until a late hour. One remarked, that as persons in the dark feel for what they want, and, having no light, are unable to find it, so they, when left to themselves, looked and looked, and thought and thought, yet still came to no satisfactory conclusion; but when they had their Minister with them he was a light which enabled them to see what they wanted at once. Another stated, that at one of their Prayer Meetings an individual prayed that the Holy Spirit might be given to his Teacher, and he wanted to know whether that was not wrong. I said it would be better for them to pray for all in general, rather than for individuals, lest others might think the person who prayed thought he possessed a greater share of the Spirit than his neighbour. I was immediately asked whether it was right, then, to pray in particular for the Queen. I said it was, because she was our chief ruler, and what she did affected the destinies of millions. "Thus," I continued, "we pray for Bishops and Ministers, that they may be endued with the Holy Spirit, and thus rightly dispense the Word of God." "Then," said my questioner, "why not pray for our Teacher." I had now no more to say. 4 After explaining a passage in the Scriptures which had puzzled them, they remarked how much further we see than they: that their knowledge of God's Word was not so long as the nail of the little finger, but that ours was longer than the fingers outspread. The same individual inquired if I did not think, had Christ first appeared among them, that the knowledge of Him would never have reached the Europeans. I replied, that God's Word could not be hid; being His, it must be seen by all; that the Jews were not so civilized a people as the Greeks or Romans, and that their knowledge was despised by those nations, yet the Gospel found its way from Judea and overspread those nations; that had it not been God's Word it would never have reached New Zealand; that we have many very learned works in England, but they had not reached them, nor did they even know their names, whereas there was scarcely a verse in the Testament with which they were not familiar. One said he felt that his spirit was compressed within a very small space by his body; that when released from it he thought it might expand from one end of the world to the other, and reach even Heaven itself; that this world would not be large enough for the spirit of God's people. I have noted these remarks, as it proves how the Natives reflect, and that a good work is going on at least in some of them.

June 1--I got up by candle-light, but was so occupied in dispensing medicine, that it was late before we had Service. About ten o'clock we left, and had unceasing rain all day. At Irungahape the stream was so swollen that I was obliged to stay at Manawapo for the night. I took the Service, and then had an interesting conversation with some of the Christian Natives. The conversation turned to the feast that had been made for those who went to the Sacrament. I told them I thought it was a great waste of food; that Aperahama and his party were only staying to eat what was given them, and what they did not want. They all agreed; when I reminded them that they were all anxious to have European Teachers, and said that had that food been collected for one, it would have been sufficient for a year's support. They seemed much struck with the idea; and Hare Purumera has engaged to build a house, fence in a garden, and make an annual collection equal to the one alluded to, provided I will engage to furnish them with a Teacher, which I have conditionally promised to do.

June 2, 1846--We started as soon as it light, and reached the Ihupuku very late in the evening. My quarters were not very fragrant, there being about 400 lampreys, which were presented to us when we were here before, hung up in the room.